American Academy of Pediatrics Reiterates the Importance of Vaccines

​"The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) commends the decision made by the Tribeca Film Festival to remove a film with the potential to spread false information regarding vaccines. Last week, the AAP learned that the Festival would be providing a platform for widely discredited views on the safety of childhood immunizations, and our pediatricians across the country raised concerns. The Festival has correctly refrained from providing such a platform and we are grateful.

"The science regarding vaccines is clear. Vaccines work, plain and simple. Vaccines are one of the safest, most effective, and most important medical innovations of our time.

"Claims that vaccines are linked to autism have been disproven by a robust body of medical literature. Any efforts to suggest otherwise would be dangerous to the health of our children, families and communities. As pediatricians, we understand that what is best for the health of children is for them to be fully vaccinated.

"The AAP will be participating in National Autism Awareness Month this April, and pediatricians look forward to engaging with colleagues and patients to raise awareness across the country.

"It is important for all stakeholders to engage in a productive discussion of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism. As a nation, we must be doing much more to prevent and treat these conditions and support children and families. The AAP will continue to advocate for increased investments in federal research dollars and new programs designed to improve diagnosis, treatment and care."

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 64,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visitwww.aap.org and follow us on Twitter @AmerAcadPeds.